Bands of heavy snowfall with rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour, struck Denver during the evening commute. The heaviest snowfall occurred south of a line extending from Arvada to Denver International Airport.
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The episode as NWS BOU wrote it up.
Bands of heavy snowfall with rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour, struck Denver during the evening commute. The heaviest snowfall occurred south of a line extending from Arvada to Denver International Airport. The heavy snow snarled traffic and left many stranded at the airport. At Denver International Airport, 8.3 inches of snowfall was observed. Storm totals elsewhere included: 9 inches in Aurora, 8.5 inches near Centennial; 8 inches near Cherry Creek Reservoir and Littleton, 7.5 inches at Centennial Airport, Commerce City, Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree; 7 inches near Arapahoe Park; 6.5 inches near Buckley AFB, Englewood and Strasburg; 6 inches near Deer Trail, Kiowa and Parker; with 3 to 5 inches in Arvada and Wheat Ridge.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Denver/Boulder, CO wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Feb 22, 5:48 PM MST, 1 hour 12 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 548 PM MST Fri Feb 22 2019 .UPDATE... Issued at 546 PM MST Fri Feb 22 2019 Banded snow is increasing southeast of Greeley to Boulder line extending into the srn Foothills. At some point these seperate bands will likely form into one area of heavier snow over the Denver area and then move east and southeast across the plains late this evening and overnight. Appears now amounts in the nrn Foothills and northern areas of the I-25 urban corridor to the WY border will not see much snow. Thus will likey have to adjust highlights by mid evening. && .SHORT TERM...(This evening through Saturday) Issued at 255 PM MST Fri Feb 22 2019 A digging trough is seen on water vapor satellite with a warm conveyor belt extending from the Gulf of California to western Colorado. Underneath this conveyor belt, moderate to heavy precipitation has been reported across the Desert Southwest. At the surface, a cyclone has developed near Centennial with clearing to the south and east and with low clouds and fog to the northeast of the cyclone. Visible satellite and radar indicate snow showers developing over the north central mountains and increasing in coverage and intensity. An analysis of model sounding data shows that there are good mid level lapse rates which may lead to upright convection in the mountain showers this afternoon. These showers will continue to develop and will move eastward over the urban corridor and eastern plains late this afternoon and evening. While there are weaker lapse rates over the plains, model cross sections indicate the potential for CSI to be released this evening. Since there is a considerable amount of upright and/or slantwise instability within the atmosphere this afternoon and evening, the potential exists for strong bands of snow to develop with snowfall rates of up to 1.5 inches per hour. Individual model runs are all over the place on where these heavy bands will setup so there is low to medium confidence in snowfall amounts at any particular location across the urban corridor and eastern plains. With that being said, 2 to 6 inches is still expected over the urban corridor and eastern plains and the message of the Winter Weather Advisory remains the same, that there will be hazardous travel conditions underneath the snow bands during the commute this evening. One potential area that may have a higher potential to see a snow band impact the evening commute is Estes Park, Fort Collins and Loveland. This is because a band that is currently aligned over the higher mountains from western Summit County to southern Larimer County will move northeastward toward the aforementioned areas. This is supported by recent HRRR and RAP solutions as well as the increase in radar reflectivities. Storm total snowfall is not expected to be above the 2 to 6 inch forecast in these areas, however, because during the rest of the event, downslope flow will hinder snowfall rates. An area of potentially higher storm total snowfall amounts is the Palmer Divide. An initial band of snow may move through that area shortly after 00Z and then strong upslope flow with ascent aloft will enhance snowfall throughout the rest of the event. If the initial band does setup over the Palmer Divide, there is potential to see amounts above 6 inches which could require an upgrade to a Winter Storm Warning. The evening shift will monitor the potential for an upgrade there. Tomorrow morning, the snow will depart the eastern plains and then mainly dry conditions are expected the rest of the day. Strong wind gusts are expected over the eastern plains and Cheyenne Ridge with gusts up to 50 mph possible. .LONG TERM...(Saturday night through Friday) Issued at 255 PM MST Fri Feb 22 2019 Colorado will be under the influence of a zonal flow aloft through much of the period which should result in dry and warmer weather across north central and northeastern Colorado through Thursday. There may be enough moisture to produce isolated to scattered light snow showers across the high country at times with the best chance Saturday night and Thursday. The plains should see dry weather with temperatures at or above normal values. The far northeast plains may see breezy conditions Sunday evening due to the pressure gradient between the northern plains states and Colorado. Tuesday and Thursday look to be the warmest days of the week due to some weak ridging. Thursday night into Friday there are some inconsistencies in the models. The GFS has an upper level trough moving across the central and northern Rockies with a 140+KT upper jet over southern Colorado. The ECMWF and GEM show no such ridge, and has Colorado under the influence of a moderate to strong northwesterly flow aloft. Despite the differences, either solution could produce accumulating snow in the mountains and colder unsettled weather across the plains. && .AVIATION...(For the 18Z TAFS through 18Z Saturday afternoon) Issued at 255 PM MST Fri Feb 22 2019 Continues to be a complicated short term forecast for the metro area terminals. A break in the precipitation will continue this afternoon through around 00Z. APA has scattered out and will continue until MVFR/IFR conditions return after 00Z. BJC and DEN will remain socked in at IFR until the next storm system impacts the terminals after 00Z. A complicating factor is a localized fog bank near the DEN airfield. Have kept it out of the TAF since conditions are already IFR with the CIGs, and also feel once the snow begins the fog will accrete to the snow and dissipate, probably in the next 3 hours or so. The other real challenge is the snow. The environment continues to support snow banding after 00Z, but the exact timing and location are entirely in question. Also in question is whether there could be 2 rounds of banding or just one. The high res models are struggling mightily with the current temperatures and gradient and surface wind low pattern, so have low confidence in their ability to model the snow event. HRRR continues to show 2 rounds of banding, the first forced by the low-level thermal gradient which is not exactly rooted in reality. The end result is that we will continue to broadbrush the snow in the TAFs until we see banding develop upstream (or worst case, on top of the terminals). Any snow band that impacts the terminals would drop the VIS to 1/4 or 1/2 mile, and drop 1-3 inches of snow or more per band. Best bet on the timing would be after 02Z or 03Z. Best chance for APA and DEN are 3-6 inches total accumulation through 12Z Saturday, most of which will accumulate on the runways. 1-4" for BJC. Still a ton of uncertainty on amounts however. After 12Z Saturday the precipitation shield should be east of the terminals and improving CIG conditions should commence. By 18Z we believe VFR conditions should prevail through the remainder of Saturday into early Sunday. Northwest winds will pick up Saturday afternoon and could gust to 25 kts or more. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM MST Saturday for COZ046>051. Winter Weather Advisory until 8 AM MST Saturday for COZ035-036- 038>045. Winter Weather Advisory until 2 AM MST Saturday for COZ034. && UPDATE...RPK SHORT TERM...Danielson LONG TERM...Kalina AVIATION...Schlatter
Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Denver/Boulder CO 1101 AM MST Fri Feb 22 2019 COZ030>051-231815- Jackson County Below 9000 Feet- West Jackson and West Grand Counties Above 9000 Feet- Grand and Summit Counties Below 9000 Feet- South and East Jackson/Larimer/North and Northeast Grand/ Northwest Boulder Counties Above 9000 Feet- South and Southeast Grand/West Central and Southwest Boulder/ Gilpin/Clear Creek/Summit/North and West Park Counties Above 9000 Feet-Larimer and Boulder Counties Between 6000 and 9000 Feet- Jefferson and West Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet/Gilpin/Clear Creek/Northeast Park Counties Below 9000 Feet- Central and Southeast Park County- Larimer County Below 6000 Feet/Northwest Weld County- Boulder And Jefferson Counties Below 6000 Feet/West Broomfield County- North Douglas County Below 6000 Feet/Denver/West Adams and Arapahoe Counties/East Broomfield County- Elbert/Central and East Douglas Counties Above 6000 Feet- Northeast Weld County-Central and South Weld County-Morgan County- Central and East Adams and Arapahoe Counties- North and Northeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/North Lincoln County- Southeast Elbert County Below 6000 Feet/South Lincoln County- Logan County-Washington County-Sedgwick County-Phillips County- 1101 AM MST Fri Feb 22 2019 This hazardous weather outlook is for northeast and north central Colorado. .DAY ONE...Today and Tonight Moderate to heavy snow bands will push east this evening across the urban corridor and plains, with 2 to 6 inches of snow possible along with gusty northwest winds. Hazardous traveling conditions are expected for the latter half of the evening commute. In the mountains, snow will increase this afternoon and evening with 5 to 8 inches of additional snowfall expected by Saturday morning. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Saturday through Thursday Snow combined with gusty northwest winds will result in difficult travel over portions of eastern Colorado Saturday morning. The snow will move east of the area by late morning, however gusty northwest winds will persist and produce localized blowing snow through Saturday afternoon. Warmer and drier conditions are expected Sunday and into early next week. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation will not be needed today or tonight.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
3 winter weather, 1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Colorado in 2019Every state in 2019This day in weather historyWarnings in Colorado, February 2019
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 808909, 808912, 808913, 809402.